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Cowboys agree to formal bargaining with cheerleaders’ new association
The Dallas Cowboys have recognized the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association as the squad’s collective bargaining representative, opening the way for negotiations. The move follows years of disputes over cheerleaders’ pay and a major raise in 2025.
The Dallas Cowboys have agreed to recognize the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association (DCCA) as the collective bargaining representative for the team’s cheerleaders, the organization said Oct. 23, 2026. The recognition clears the way for the association and team to negotiate over working conditions and compensation.
Tad Carper, the Cowboys’ senior vice president of communications, also confirmed the union’s recognition. No details about a bargaining schedule or proposed contract terms were provided.
The development follows years of complaints and public attention over cheerleaders’ pay. In 2018, former Cowboys cheerleader Erica Wilkins sued the team over compensation. A 2019 settlement doubled the game-day rate from $200 to $400 and increased hourly pay to $12.
In 2025, the cheerleaders received a pay increase described as 400%. The team’s cheerleading squad has been a prominent part of the Cowboys’ brand for more than six decades. Collective bargaining will give the association a formal role in negotiating on members’ behalf.